Wall of Honor Inductee - 2002

Jean M. Wilkowski
Meritorious Service
U.S. Ambassador (ret.)

A true Renaissance woman, Jean M. Wilkowski became a well-traveled citizen of the world long before it became de rigueur. She spent her professional career in diplomatic service to the United States on four different continents. Her assignments included the United Nations, Switzerland, Honduras, Colombia, and Italy, along with several major cities in Europe and South America. She became this country’s first woman ambassador to Africa, holding that post in Zambia from 1972-1976.

Since her retirement from active duty in 1980, Ambassador Wilkowski has stayed extremely busy. Among other positions, she has served as governor of the Diplomatic and Consular Officers Retired, consultant for the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, visiting fellow for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, and has served as one of six lay members on the International Policy Committee for the U.S. Catholic Conference.

She won the Order of the Cross and Star for Humanitarian Service with Refugees from the Knights of Malta. She taught at Barry University prior to entering foreign service and, since 1990, she has been a member of the University’s Board of Trustees.